Reports say the iPhone Fold has entered trial production

Trial production

It has been reported that Foxconn (富士康) has begun trial production of Apple’s much-rumored foldable iPhone, according to IT Home (IT之家) citing industry supply‑chain sources. Apple has not publicly confirmed the move. Could this be the biggest iPhone redesign yet? Observers say the project is moving beyond concept stage and into factory validation.

Design and specs

Supply‑chain guidance reportedly sent to partners targets a launch in the second half of 2026 for what Apple intends as a large, book‑style foldable similar in form to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. Leaks suggest a 7.7‑inch inner display and a 5.3‑inch external screen. Early claims of an “almost crease‑free” inner panel have been tempered by later reports that Apple is using a crease‑reduction technique that cannot entirely remove the fold line. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has called the device potentially “the most significant redesign in iPhone history.”

Software, cameras and supply‑chain context

Apple is reportedly preparing iOS 27 with foldable‑specific optimizations — split‑screen and iPad‑style multitasking among them. Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo (郭明錤) has predicted a dual rear camera setup, a single front camera, and a power button with Touch ID rather than Face ID. The timeline and scale of production will matter: Apple remains heavily dependent on Taiwanese and mainland Chinese assemblers even as US‑China tech rivalry and export controls put supply chains under new scrutiny. If trial runs succeed, the iPhone Fold could reshape premium smartphone competition — and raise fresh questions about component sourcing and geopolitical risk.